maligning
When you are maligning someone, it means you are saying bad things about them.
These bad things are not true or are unfair.
It's like trying to make others think badly of that person.
People malign others to hurt their good name.
Niveau de difficulté
The word itself is not too long, but the definition is a bit complex and abstract. A C1 learner should be able to handle it, but it's not trivial.
Using 'maligning' correctly in writing requires understanding its nuance and the appropriate contexts, which can be challenging for C1 learners. It's a formal word and might be overused if not understood well.
Similar to writing, using 'maligning' naturally in spoken English requires a good grasp of its meaning and appropriate situations. Pronunciation is also slightly tricky with the 'ign' sound.
A C1 learner should generally recognize 'maligning' when heard, but its relatively low frequency might make it slightly challenging in fast-paced speech.
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Prérequis
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Exemples par niveau
Expressions idiomatiques
"Drag someone's name through the mud"
To say very bad or untrue things about someone, causing them to lose their good reputation.
He tried to drag his opponent's name through the mud during the election.
informal"Sling mud at someone"
To make damaging or insulting accusations about someone, especially in public.
Political campaigns often involve candidates slinging mud at each other.
informal"Badmouth someone"
To speak critically or unfavorably about someone, often behind their back.
It's unprofessional to badmouth your colleagues.
informal"Cast aspersions on someone's character"
To make damaging or unpleasant remarks or criticisms about someone's character or reputation.
She cast aspersions on his character by implying he was dishonest.
formal"Talk behind someone's back"
To talk about someone, often negatively, without their knowledge or presence.
I can't stand people who talk behind others' backs.
neutral"Speak ill of someone"
To say negative or unkind things about someone.
It's best not to speak ill of the dead.
formal"Smear someone's reputation"
To make untrue or damaging statements about someone with the intention of harming their reputation.
The tabloid newspaper tried to smear the celebrity's reputation with false stories.
neutral"Run someone down"
To criticize someone severely, often unjustly.
He's always running down his ex-girlfriend to his new friends.
informal"Tarnish someone's image"
To damage the good reputation or perception of someone.
The scandal threatened to tarnish her public image.
neutral"Take a jab at someone"
To make a quick, sharp, and often critical or insulting remark about someone.
During the debate, she took a jab at her opponent's policies.
neutralFamille de mots
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Verbes
Adjectifs
Comment l'utiliser
When using 'maligning,' remember that it implies an intentional and malicious act of speaking ill of someone. It's stronger than simply criticizing or disagreeing, as it suggests a deliberate attempt to harm their reputation. You'll often see it in contexts where someone is falsely accused or unfairly attacked verbally. Consider the nuance: * Criticizing: Can be constructive or objective. * Slandering/Libeling: Legal terms for spoken or written maligning that is false and damaging. * Gossip: Can be maligning, but not always. Gossip can be neutral or even positive. Maligning is always negative and harmful.
1. Using 'maligning' too broadly for any criticism: Not all criticism is maligning. If someone is offering constructive feedback or a differing opinion, it's not usually 'maligning' unless their intent is clearly malicious and aimed at damaging a reputation. * Incorrect: "My boss was maligning my work when he said I needed to improve my presentation skills." * Correct: "My competitor was maligning my business by spreading false rumors about our products." 2. Confusing it with 'malignant': While related in origin (both come from a root meaning 'evil'), 'malignant' typically refers to something harmful or evil in nature, often used in medical contexts (e.g., a malignant tumor). 'Maligning' is specifically about speaking ill of someone. * Incorrect: "The politician gave a maligning speech." * Correct: "The politician's speech was full of maligning remarks about his opponent." 3. Using it as a noun to refer to the person doing the maligning: The word itself (the gerund) refers to the act, not the person. * Incorrect: "He is a maligning." * Correct: "He is maligning his former colleagues."
Teste-toi 42 questions
He is not nice. He likes ___ his friends.
Maligning means to speak badly about someone. The sentence implies a negative action.
Please stop ___. It is not kind.
Maligning is an unkind action, which fits the context of 'Please stop'.
She was ___ him with bad words.
Using 'bad words' to describe someone is an act of maligning.
The boy was ___ his sister to make her sad.
Maligning someone can make them sad.
Do not ___ your teacher. It is wrong.
It is wrong to speak badly about your teacher, which is what maligning means.
They were ___ the new student.
If someone is new, some people might speak badly about them, which is maligning.
This sentence describes someone as kind.
This sentence introduces a friend.
This sentence describes the color of a cat.
Write a short sentence about why it's not nice to say bad things about someone.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
It's not nice to say bad things about someone because it makes them sad.
Imagine you hear someone saying unkind things about your friend. What would you do? Write one sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I would tell them to stop saying unkind things about my friend.
Fill in the blank: It's important to be ___ to others.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
It's important to be kind to others.
What did Tom's classmates do?
Read this passage:
Tom heard his classmates talking bad about another student, Lisa. They said Lisa was not smart. Tom knew this was not true because Lisa always worked hard. He felt sad for Lisa.
What did Tom's classmates do?
The passage says 'Tom heard his classmates talking bad about another student, Lisa.'
The passage says 'Tom heard his classmates talking bad about another student, Lisa.'
Why was Sarah upset?
Read this passage:
Sarah was upset because someone wrote bad things about her on the internet. Her mom told her not to worry and that good friends know the truth. Sarah felt a little better.
Why was Sarah upset?
The passage states 'Sarah was upset because someone wrote bad things about her on the internet.'
The passage states 'Sarah was upset because someone wrote bad things about her on the internet.'
What should you do if someone spreads rumors about you?
Read this passage:
If someone spreads rumors or tells lies about you, they are trying to hurt your name. It's best to ignore them and show everyone with your actions that the rumors are not true.
What should you do if someone spreads rumors about you?
The passage advises, 'It's best to ignore them and show everyone with your actions that the rumors are not true.'
The passage advises, 'It's best to ignore them and show everyone with your actions that the rumors are not true.'
This sentence describes an act of 'maligning' by spreading false rumors.
This sentence illustrates 'maligning' in the context of a political debate.
This sentence emphasizes the unfairness of maligning without proper understanding.
The politician was accused of ___ his opponent with baseless rumors.
To 'malign' someone means to speak about them in an unfairly critical or spiteful manner, which aligns with spreading 'baseless rumors' to harm their reputation.
Despite the constant ___ from the tabloids, she maintained her dignity and focus.
The context of 'tabloids' and the need to 'maintain her dignity' suggests that the tabloids were speaking about her negatively, thus 'maligning' her.
It's unethical to engage in ___ a former colleague, regardless of past disagreements.
The term 'unethical' implies that the action is wrong. Speaking negatively about a former colleague, especially 'regardless of past disagreements,' would be considered unethical and an act of 'maligning'.
The company issued a statement refuting the claims that were ___ their brand image.
If the company is 'refuting claims,' it means those claims are damaging. 'Maligning' fits this context as it means to speak critically to damage a reputation or image.
He was accused of ___ the character of the witness during the cross-examination.
In a cross-examination, questioning a witness's 'character' often involves trying to discredit them, which is a form of 'maligning'.
Instead of constructively criticizing, some individuals resort to ___ others out of jealousy.
The contrast with 'constructively criticizing' and the motivation of 'jealousy' indicates that the individuals are speaking negatively and unfairly about others, which is 'maligning'.
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies 'maligning'?
Maligning involves spreading harmful, often untrue, statements to damage a person's reputation, as described in option C. The other options involve legitimate criticism or reporting.
The politician was accused of ________ his opponent during the debate, making several unsubstantiated claims about his past.
The context of making 'unsubstantiated claims about his past' strongly suggests speaking about someone in an unfairly critical or spiteful manner, which is the definition of 'maligning'.
Which word is an antonym for 'maligning'?
Maligning involves speaking ill of someone, so an antonym would be to speak well of them, which is 'praising'. The other options are synonyms or related negative actions.
If you write a truthful newspaper article exposing a public figure's questionable financial dealings, you are maligning them.
Maligning involves speaking or writing about someone in an *unfairly critical or spiteful manner*, often with harmful intent. If the article is truthful and meticulously researched, it is reporting facts, not maligning.
Spreading rumors about a colleague's work performance with the intention of getting them fired is an example of maligning.
Spreading rumors with the intention to harm a person's reputation or career directly aligns with the definition of maligning.
A literary critic giving a negative review of a book based on objective analysis of its plot and character development is maligning the author.
Objective analysis, even if negative, does not constitute maligning. Maligning implies unfair criticism, spite, or baseless attacks on character, which is not the case in a professional literary review.
This sentence structure clearly conveys that the campaign was unfairly criticizing the candidate's career.
This sentence demonstrates the act of speaking critically against authority despite potential consequences.
This sentence emphasizes the impropriety of spreading harmful, unsubstantiated claims about a person.
/ 42 correct
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